News

Sunflower Challenge

Together TV, the broadcaster inspiring positive change is a charity and a community-owned channel, has launched a new edition of the Sunflower Challenge.

Get a chance to receive free seeds in the post and join Together TV's Sunflower Challenge! New to gardening? No access to a garden? Worry not! Together TV will walk you step by step through amazing tips and exclusive videos by TV gardener Danny Clarke for nurturing your sunflower seedling into bloom. And you do not even need a garden for this.

Along the 12 week journey together, you'll have the opportunity to win great prizes, improve your gardening skills and boost your wellbeing too.

 For more information  Open Together TV's Sunflower Challenge Toolkit

Health Centre Car Park

Work on the car park is complete. 
All parking spaces on the Heath Road side of the bin store will be for disabled. This will more than double the current number of disabled spaces.

When ever possible, please use the new larger car park at the back and access it via Old Stowmarket Road.

National Highways work on A14 concrete surface repairs and maintenance.

Work has begun. There will be a contraflow to minimise disruption and keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible. A contraflow is when the road is shut in one direction and traffic is then moved over to drive on the other side of the road to share the remaining carriageway. This provides a clear working area. The speed limit through the contraflow section will be 50mph to ensure the safety of our workers and the travelling public. Once in place, the contraflow will allow one lane travelling in each direction 24/7  whilst work is carried out on the opposite closed carriageway.

Unfortunately, National Highways expect delays of up to 60 minutes during peak travel times.
There will be electronic message signs along the A14 and surrounding trunk road network to encourage drivers to use alternative routes.

If you have any questions about the project, you can contact the 24/7 National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000.
formation is available on the website  https://nationalhighways.co.uk

 

 A message from Suffolk Trading Standards 

It’s important to always keep an eye out for scams. They can and do affect anyone. Something might be a scam if:

• It seems too good to be true – like an email saying you’ve won a competition you don’t remember entering
• Someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly
• You’re being urged to respond or pay quickly
• You’ve been asked to pay for something urgently or in an unusual way – for example by bank transfer or gift vouchers
• You’ve been asked to give away personal information

How to protect yourself from scams 

• If you’re not sure about something, get advice from a trusted source.
• Don’t be rushed into making any quick decisions. It’s okay to take your time
• Never give money or personal details, like passwords or bank details, to anyone you don’t know or have only met online
• Pay by debit or credit card. This gives you extra protection if things go wrong
• Be suspicious. Scammers can be very smart. They can appear like a trusted business or government official, have a professional website and say all the right things
• Keep your online accounts secure. Use a strong password for email accounts that you don’t use anywhere else

 There is more information on how to protect yourself from scams on the Citizens Advice website. www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scamsadvice

 Friends Against Scams also have advice on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams. www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk

 If you need advice, or want to report a scam or rogue trader,

call us via 0808 223 1133.

If you have any concerns about a company that has contacted you, call us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

There is more useful information on the Trading standards website click here

 

 

Hopkins Homes development of the Bury Road site

The company has created a Community Liaison Service which you can contact with questions and concerns.

The email address is community@buryroad-woopit.co.uk.

Phone number 0800 0352874.

The website is www.buryroad-woolpit.co.uk

 

 Warm Homes in Suffolk

Warm Homes Suffolk wants to help the people of Suffolk live in homes that cost less to heat, so they can reduce their energy usage and enjoy lower bills. 

There is advice available at ww.warmhomessuffolk.org for householders, renters and landlords.

Grants to help insulate and make your property more energy efficient are available.

 

 Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk has produced a help sheet for the energy and cost of living price rises 

The cost of energy and food is so high now. With the kids home from school for the summer, I’m having to pay more for lunches and snacks. I’m worried about how I’ll put food on the table. I’m on a prepayment meter and I’m really scared we’re going to be left without any gas or electric if I can’t top up. What can I do?

 First of all, we are really sorry to hear how tough things have been for you. You’re doing the right thing in reaching out for support and there are things you can get help with.

 As a prepayment meter customer, your energy supplier will be able to give you temporary credit if you can’t afford to top up your meter. They might add this to your meter automatically, but if they don’t, you can call them and ask them to do this.

If you run out of temporary credit, speak to your supplier to explain your situation. They may give you extra temporary credit if you’re struggling with living costs. There are other reasons why they might give you extra credit too, including if you’re disabled, have a long-term health condition, or you have children under the age of 5. You’ll have to pay back anything extra you get, but you can agree how to do this in a way you can afford with your supplier.

 As you say, the cost of living is really high but there is help available. If you pay council tax and you’re in bands A-D, you should get a payment of £150 automatically. It could take until the end of September, but if you've not had it already you might need to make a claim.

 You might also be able to get help from the Household Support Fund, which helps those experiencing financial hardship. They can offer support with energy bills, with food or other essentials.

 For more information on the £150 payment or the Household Support Fund, email Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Council on housingsolutions@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk or call 0300 123 4000.

 There’s more government support coming from October in the form of a £400 payment to help you with your energy bills. If you have a prepayment meter, you’ll be given vouchers in the first week of each month from October, via text, email or post. Make sure your energy company has your up-to-date details.

 To help manage other costs, it’s also worth checking you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to. There are benefits calculators you can use online or Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk can complete a benefit check for you. If you can’t afford to buy food, Citizens Advice also can help you get a referral for a food bank.

 We know this is an extremely worrying time and everyone’s situation is different. Don’t struggle alone.

 Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk can provide advice on this or any other issue, including debt, employment, benefits and family law.  You can contact them on 01449 676060 or use the contact form at midsuffolkcab.org.uk/contact-us.  For more information and our opening hours go to midsuffolkcab.org.uk.

 

 See the new 'Walking for Health' section of the website in the Clubs and Organisation section.

Click here for link

 

The scheme has now been launched. Here are the contact details

WGNS mobile phone 07738756470

Operational 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday

If calling outside of these hours leave a message.

In the event of an emergency call 999

Woolpit Parish Council 

is starting an email newsletter please sign up to receive it by reading the notice on the parish council pages (Click here)

 

Read more about the Community Infrastructure Levy and how we might spend it on the parish council pages (Click here).

 

Perry’s Private Hire

Michael J. Perry has announced his retirement and the closure of the business.

He has written this short history of the firm which you will find in the History pages by clicking here. 

 

Mid Suffolk District Council remind us to check the changes to refuse and recycling bin collections 

You can find the new timetable on the website  (Click here for Bins)

 

Residents of Woolpit now have access to 4 Defibrillators in the village.

They are located as follows:

1. Woolpit Health Centre, Heath Road
2. Woolpit Cricket Club, Rectory Lane          
3. Woolpit Tennis Club, Rectory Lane
4. The Room, White Elm

    Please read the report on the defibrillators in the Information Section (Click here) before you find yourself in an emergency 

 Campaign to stop Fly Tipping

 Do not get caught out by rogue waste disposal offers.

The SCRAP fly-tipping campaign is aimed at residents and businesses whose waste is sometimes fly-tipped by unlicensed  operators, who often offer to remove waste at a ‘bargain’ price – only to then dump it. Many of these operators advertise on social media. The campaign aims to remind people that they should only allow licensed waste carriers to take waste away for them. 

  

 

 

 Photographs of Woolpit

We would like to start a village photo gallery. 

Here are a couple to get us started.